If Jackson goes, Rams likely to draft running back

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2013 at 1:00 PM

JIM THOMAS St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — Just because Steven Jackson is a couple of weeks away from being an unrestricted free agent, that doesn't mean he won't be back in St. Louis. But what if that's the case? What if he signs elsewhere once his contract is voided March 12 and the Rams' backfield is without Jackson for the first time in a decade?

The first thing that must be considered before the draft is what to make of their three rookies from 2012 — Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead and Terrance Ganaway.

At the NFL scouting combine Friday, Coach Jeff Fisher said Pead was drafted not just to be a change-of-pace back spelling Jackson but because the Rams thought he could be "the guy." Fisher said he felt Richardson could be an every-down back as well. That's debatable given their size, with Pead at 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds and Richardson at 5-10, 196.

But the Rams obviously believe both players have potential to do a lot more than was the case in 2012.

"Pead toward the end of the year, Daryl at the beginning and middle, proved they can play in the league," General Manager Les Snead said.

If that comes on a 2013 Rams roster that does not include Jackson, the roles will be much larger. According to the NFL statistical service, Jackson was on the field for 707 offensive snaps in 2012, or more than twice the amount of Richardson, Pead and Ganaway combined.

So the question then becomes, should the Rams augment that trio by adding a running back in the draft? Given the Rams' limited salary cap space and a pedestrian group of veteran running backs on the market, it seems unlikely they will go the free-agent route.

If it's via the draft, how high are the Rams willing to go to get one? Alabama's Eddie Lacy looks like the only sure first-round pick in this year's draft class, and the Rams probably could get him with their second of two first-round picks — at No. 22 overall.

At 5-11, 231 pounds, Lacy would provide a big-back element that only Ganaway (6-1, 240) brings to the current backfield, minus Jackson. Lacy made the most of his only year as an Alabama feature back, gaining 1,322 yards on 204 carries, an average of 6.5 yards a carry.

Behind Lacy, as possible second- or third-rounders, are prospects such as Giovani Bernard (5-8, 202) of North Carolina, Joseph Randle (6-0, 204) of Oklahoma State, Stepfan Taylor (5-9, 214) of Stanford and local product Montee Ball (5-10, 214) of Wisconsin via Timberland High School in Wentzville.